#2 The Glass Menagerie

In Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, Williams uses “plastic theater” to help mold the ideas of the play. At the end of scene 1, Laura is speaking to her mother about her fear of receiving no gentleman callers. Later she states she is scared she is going to  grow up and be an old maid. At this moment “The Glass Menagerie” music ends the scene. The tone of the song matches her internal feeling and also describes her external physical state. A Menagerie means a place of keeping unique animals, which directly relates to Laura being unique. Also, she is kept from society and unable to live a normal life similar to what a menagerie does to animals. When I listened to the song, it puts me in an awkward eerie place. The song “The Glass Menagerie” reminds me of Laura’s insecure state of mind. Specifically relating to the glass unicorn that is so dear to Laura’s heart because it is different than all the other glass horses. The music is played when Laura feels insecure and demeans herself not only in the scene 1, but also in scene 7. The song allows the reader a deeper understanding of Laura because it brings about different emotions that she portrays.

            The Glass Menagerie is a “memory play” which alone may be skewed from what exactly happened. When combining a memory play with “plastic theater”, it allows there to be manipulation of the truth. These concepts compliment one another because together they let you imagine what is true and the meaning behind each scene. In real life there is no music playing in the background. The music and other characteristics of “plastic theater” transform it from just a regular play into a “memory play”. Having the music in the background makes it feel more like a memory instead of just an ordinary play. By the placement of images and music, it enforces the true meaning behind Williams’ words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUnS1mK9ibo